"I don't have world-class speed, but I think I could learn ...and be productive that way,'' Michigan State quarterback Andrew Maxwell, on more QB runs

Michigan State quarterback Andrew Maxwell displays the sort of coordination and athleticism that led to him high jumping 6 feet, 7 inches in high school with this acrobatic pass against NorthwesternJ. Scott Park | MLive.com

EAST LANSING — Michigan State quarterback Andrew Maxwell is, by all accounts, a very intelligent young man.

So it's not surprising Maxwell said he's on board with whatever the plan Spartans' coach Mark Dantonio is referring to when he said at a Nov. 20 press conference, "We need to change somewhat with the times, which will happen.''

Dantonio and Maxwell both seem to indicate part of that plan is adding more mobility to the playbook at the quarterback position.

"I don't think it would hurt,'' said the deceptively athletic Maxwell, who high jumped 6 feet, 7 inches in high school. "It gives us another dimension that a defensive coordinator would have to account for. If we get good at it and it helps us, I'm not opposed to trying it.''

It would certainly be better than being sacked 19 times for a loss of 129 yards, as Maxwell was this season, or finishing with 13 rushes for 50 yards and no touchdowns, as the Michigan State junior's statistics reflect.

But Maxwell said that, although he has limited experience running the football, he believes he's up for the challenge.

"You see a lot of guys around the country who don't have excessive speed, but they are effective runners and patient runners,'' Maxwell said. "I think that's where a guy like myself, if we choose to put that in our offense, I don't have world-class speed, but I think I could learn to be patient behind the offensive line and let the plays develop ahead of me and be productive that way.''

Maxwell, perhaps the most gifted speaker in the entire program and certainly among the most media friendly, said bowl practices have historically offered the coaching staff an opportunity to try new things.

"It's a time to experiment with some new wrinkles, and experiment with some stuff offensively and defensively,'' Maxwell said. "You do have that much time, you have so many practices. It's not three practices and a game. So you can throw some stuff in and if you don't like it you can scrap it, and you really don't lose that much work time.''